4.9 Protecting Your Home from Alabama's Shifting Soils and Sinkholes
TL:DR
Northern Alabama’s year-round humidity, heavy rainfall, and clay-rich soils cause foundations to expand, contract, and settle unevenly over time—leading to cracks, sinking slabs, and structural strain. The region’s limestone bedrock also contributes to sinkholes and voids beneath homes. Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair offers lasting solutions like slab piers, PolyLevel foam injection, and pier systems for crawl space foundations to restore stability and protect your home. Schedule your free inspection today for a permanent fix.
Each year, Northern Alabama receives an average of 54 inches of rain and stays humid almost year-round. The region’s tan, orange, and gray clay soils act like a sponge, expanding when wet and shrinking during dry summer spells. As this clay repeatedly swells and contracts, it puts pressure on your home’s foundation, causing cracks, separation, and uneven settling. Over time, this movement can weaken your home’s structure if not properly repaired.
Under the clay, limestone is the bedrock of Northern Alabama. This sediment is soluble in water and erodes over time, causing sinkholes that are common in this area. While a full cavity opening is dangerous, even small voids or soft spots can allow for your foundation to settle.
In the valleys of Northern Alabama, slab-on-grade foundations are common. Because these foundations rest directly on the soil, they’re especially vulnerable to movement. When the soil beneath them shifts or settles unevenly, cracks can form in the slab, compromising stability.
In the hilly areas, crawl space foundations are more typical. These foundations rest on concrete footings and interior piers to support the home, with footing lengths adjusted to match the land’s sloping grade. If part of the foundation sits on solid rock while another section rests on softer soil, differential settlement can occur. This uneven settling can cause floors to slope, doors to stick, and walls to crack, which are common signs of foundation distress in this region.
How Can Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair Help?
Homes in Northern Alabama need a permanent solution for their foundations.
Slab-on-grade Foundations
Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair installs slab piers, each backed by a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty. These piers transfer the weight of your concrete slab through the piers and into deep, stable soil layers. Once secured, the system can lift your slab back toward its original position, providing long-term stability and peace of mind.
In areas where concrete has settled or formed depressions, we may recommend PolyLevel polyurethane foam injection. This lightweight, expanding foam fills voids beneath the concrete and gently lifts it back to its proper level without adding additional weight to the soil that could cause future settling. The installation process is fast and minimally invasive, requiring only penny-sized injection holes for precise lifting and leveling.
Crawl Space Foundations
For homes with crawl space foundations, Frontier offers Foundation Push Piers and Foundation Helical Piers to permanently stabilize and restore structural integrity.
- Push Piers are driven deep into the ground to reach stable soil and can often be installed from inside the home with minimal disruption.
- Helical Piers are screwed into the ground and do not rely on the structure’s weight for installation, making them ideal for lighter structures such as decks, porches, or stoops.
Both pier systems are designed for durability, precision, and speed. Most installations can be completed within a week.
Call us today!
Frontier Foundation & Crawl Space Repair has the specialized equipment, proven products, and professional experience needed to permanently repair your foundation. Our team will provide a free foundation repair quote and connect you with one of our foundation specialists, who can answer any questions you may have.
Contact us today to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation quote and take the first step toward restoring your home’s stability and safety.